Girdle construction



"May 19,1970 Q I 1E. R. SUTTER 3,512,532

GIRDLE' CONSTRUCTION Filed April 20, 1967 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,512,532 GIRDLE CONSTRUCTION Edward R. Sutter,Cook County, Ill., assignor to Miss America Brassiere Company, Inc., acorporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 632,427 Int. Cl.A41c 41/00 US. Cl. 128--522 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A girdleembodying a novel stretch panel present therein to minimize creeping.

The invention relates to improvements in girdles and more particularlyto a fabric girdle having a novel stretch panel adapted to properlysupport the human torso, and particularly to minimize creeping so commonto known foundation garments.

Girdles are made primarily of fabric, and attempt to control and supportportions of the human torso. Girdles of known construction hold in thestomach, flatten the posterior and slim the hips, but they fail toembody effective means to prevent creeping, such as the riding upwardlyof the lower front portion of the girdle as to cause it to cut into thegroin or other parts of the body of the wearer, or to otherwise make thewearer uncomfortable, particularly when the wearer is seated or movesabout in varying positions. The structure of the girdle herein disclosedincludes a woven stretch fabric panel that is arranged in the lowerregion of the posterior portion thereof. This panel permits amplestretch when the wearer is seated, and thus the tendency for the girdleto creep upwardly with a resulting tugging on the front portion of thegirdle is eliminated, or at least reduced to a minimum, withoutotherwise affecting the ability of the garment to perform its supportingfunction. This posterior stretch panel is comprised of interlineatedthreads woven or otherwise formed in a manner to permit greater stretchacross its width in a vertical direction on the wearer than along itslength in a horizontal direction on the wearer.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novellyconstructed girdle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a girdle with a novellyconstructed and arranged stretch panel disposed to minimize creeping ofthe girdle.

Another object is to provide a novel stretch panel for use in a girdleconstruction.

Another object is to provide a girdle of the character referred to whichis not expensive or difiicult to manufacture, and which is elficient inits use.

The structure by means of which the above noted and other objects andadvantages of the invention are attained will be described in thefollowing specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention,in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the girdle, viewed from the back sidewhen being worn.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the girdle when being worn, and thewearer seated.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the stretchable panel.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the panel fabric illustrating theintersections of the stretchable material.

ice

Referring to the representative disclosure of the girdle as shown in theaccompanying drawings, the girdle 11 is fabricated for the most partfrom woven fabric having minimal streach characteristics for the purposeof embracing a selected portion of the human torso, and may include legportions 11a. This fabric, as in most known girdles, is commonly knownas power band fabric, and it has the characteristic of exerting forcesin all directions within its plane due to the multi-dimensional stretchwhen worn by a wearer. This force complex provides local values to holdin the stomach, hips and posterior area as required, but lacks theability to prevent the girdle from creeping upwardly when worn,especially when the wearer is seated; and, in addition, permitstelescoping of the fabric from the hip or leg areas to the front panelsof the girdle responsive to movement of the wearer as to cause the frontpanels to cut into the waist and groin of the wearer.

The present invention overcomes this disadvantage by embodyin in thegirdle structure a panel 12 which is substantially elongated, as shownin FIG. 3, and is inserted in a comparable opening in the lower regionof the back side of the girdle, as shown. Its location is such that whenthe wearer is seated, it lies in the region of greatest strain.

Because of the disposition of the interlineated threads comprising thepanel 12, which define intersections that are substantially oval shapedas shown at 13 in FIG. '4, its stretch is substantially greater in avertical direction, while minimum power band stretch is present in alongitudinal direction. As shown, the panel extends across the lowerposterior region of the girdle and has its edges stitched in a flat seam14 firmly to the adjacent edges of the girdle material. The maximumstretch in a vertical direction and in the medial area of the posteriorregion is considerably greater than the stretch of the power band fabricand at the longitudinal ends of the panel. Consequently, any tendencyfor the girdle to creep up is compensated for by stretch of the panelvertically whether the wearer is standing, moving or seated.

Girdle 11 may also be provided with opposed side seams 15 adjacent theopposed sides 16 of stretch panel 12, as to divide the girdle into afront panel 17 and back panel 18, in order to focus the stretchresulting from nliovement of the wearer in the area of the stretch pane12.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description thereofis intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as details ofthe structure disclosed may be modified or changed without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desireto be restricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

1. A girdle comprised of a stretchable fabric sheath having an area ofits posterior region removed, said sheath comprising a front panel and arear panel sewn together at opposed sides thereof, and a relatively widepanel of elastic fabric material stretchable more in one direction thanin another direction inserted in the posterior area thereof, saidstretch panel forming a part of the rear panel and overlying said areaand sewn to adjacent edges of the front panel.

3 2. The girdle recited in claim 1 in which the area removed is locatedin the lower region of the posterior area.

3. The girdle recited in claim 1 in which the rear panel comprises upperand lower portions, and the stretch 5 panel lies intermediate and isjoined to said upper and lower portions.

4. The girdle recited in claim 1 in which the stretch panel is moreelastic in a vertical direction than in a horizontal direction.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ADELE M. EAGER, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 128541, 556

